Credit: ESA
A Finite INTEGRAL
The INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory, or INTEGRAL, is an ESA high-energy observatory designed to study some of the most extreme objects and events in the cosmos. INTEGRAL was launched in October 2002, and since launch, INTEGRAL has provided a slew of important observational studies of black holes and neutron stars, extreme cosmic explosion and gamma-ray bursts, external active galaxies, and the chemistry of the Milky Way. One of INTEGRAL's key observations was the detection of gamma-ray emission from the famous gravitational wave source, the neutron-star merger which was observed on Auguest 17, 2017. INTEGRAL was able to make so many outstanding breakthrough observations thanks to its powerful suite of scientific instruments, providing high resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with fine imaging and accurate positioning of celestial sources in the gamma-ray energy range, along with a monitoring camera to obtain images in the visible band. Sadly, space and time take their toll, and after 2886 orbits and 22 years years of breakthrough high-energy observations, INTEGRAL ended its observing mission on February 28, 2025, and is expected to re-enter the earth's atmosphere in 2029. This is not the end of INTEGRAL's story, since the archive of INTEGRAL observations, the INTEGRAL Legacy Archive, will provide high-energy astrophysicists an important resource for research for years to come.
Published: March 10, 2025
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Page Author: Dr. Michael F. Corcoran
Last modified Tuesday, 11-Mar-2025 13:16:57 EDT